Ultrasonography patterns of atopic dermatitis in children

Background Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most common allergic diseases in children. The aim of the study was to evaluate the ultrasound picture of lesional and non-lesional skin in children with AD. Materials and Methods The study included a group of children with AD and a control group. Inclusion criteria were as follows: age 0-8 years and clinical diagnosis of AD. An ultrasound scanner with a 75 MHz transducer probe was used to produce B-mode skin images in lesions and non-lesional skin. The thickness and the echogenicity of epidermis, dermis, and subepidermal low-echogenic band (SLEB) were measured, and the ratio coefficient per body site was calculated. Results Ultrasonography of non-lesional skin in children with AD showed uneven epidermis contour, a tendency to increased epidermis and decreased dermis thickness, and the SLEB was observed in 77% of cases. In lesions, there was an increased thickness and a decreased echogenicity of epidermis and dermis, and epidermis had irregular contours in most cases. The SLEB was in all lesions, showing greater thickness and lower echogenicity compared with non-lesional skin. Conclusion HF-USG of the skin allows visualizing the epidermal barrier disruption and inflammation in dermis in children with AD on the entire surface of the skin.